Calendar

To have community events listed free in The Potomac Almanac, send mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, Va. 22102, e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com, or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. Unless otherwise noted, all events are in Potomac. If you have any questions, call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457.

&lt;cal1&gt;Wednesday/Aug. 1

&lt;cal2&gt;Wild Birds. Well-known artist and naturalist, Lois Auer, will introduce a few of her raptor friends at the Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 7 p.m. Learn all about these amazing birds. Register by calling 240-777-0690.

Family Films. Come watch films based on popular picture books at Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 10:30 a.m. A librarian will read a story and do stretches with the children. No registration required. Call 240-777-0690.

&lt;cal1&gt;Friday/Aug. 3

&lt;cal2&gt;Fun in the Sun. Color a beach ball and create magic noodles at Cabin John Mall Atrium, 11325 Seven Locks Road, Potomac. Enjoy story time with finger puppets with Perfect Parties by Terrye.

Swingin’ the Blues. The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture presents Swingin' the Blues for a soothing 'end of the work-week' dance in the Bumper Car Pavillion at Glen Echo Park. Choose either an introductory West Coast Swing lesson with Helen Tocco, or a slow Blues lesson with Mike and Donna, from 8-9 p.m. Then follow that with music from the Idle Americans till midnight. The $13 admission includes the lesson. Contact Donna Barker at 301-634-2231 or dbarker@glenechopark.org.

Weekend Nature Program. Come visit Discovery Creek Children's Museum Forest Tales exhibition. Spend quality time with the entire family while participating in engaging science and nature activities at the Stable at Glen Echo Park, located near the park entrance, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 2, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 to make arrangements or visit www.discoverycreek.org.

English Language Conversation Club. Join in practicing and improving your spoken English with the help of volunteers leading discussions at the Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 3 p.m. Call 240-777-0690.

Climb Wall Weekend. Get ready to climb at Discovery Creek Children’s Museum at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. View the Forest Tales exhibit, explore the trails that lead to the creek, and get crafty with arts and crafts. Members and children under 2 are free, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 or visit www.discoverycreek.org.

Park Tours. Walking tours of Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo begin at 2 p.m. A 60-minute film documentary is shown at 4 p.m. Admission is free and the tour is also offered by appointment at 301-492-6229. Visit www.nps.gov/glec.

Weekend Nature Program. Come visit Discovery Creek Children's Museum Forest Tales exhibition. Spend quality time with the entire family while participating in engaging science and nature activities at the Stable at Glen Echo Park, located near the park entrance, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 2, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 to make arrangements or visit www.discoverycreek.org.

Climb Wall Weekend. Get ready to climb at Discovery Creek Children’s Museum at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. View the Forest Tales exhibit, explore the trails that lead to the creek, and get crafty with arts and crafts. Members and children under 2 are free, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 or visit www.discoverycreek.org.

Waltz. Waltz Time presents a beginning waltz lesson from 3-3:30 p.m., followed by an afternoon of waltzes and other couples dances in the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park. Dancing from 3:30-6 p.m. to the music of Crowfoot. Cost is $8. Contact 202-238-0230 or info@waltztimedances.org.

Contra and Square Dance. The Folklore Society of Greater Washington presents traditional American dancing with a focus on New England style contra dances, and including square dances, country mixers, waltzes and other couple dances. All dances are taught, and no partner is necessary. The newcomers' welcome lesson is at 7 p.m., followed by called dances from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Cost is $12 nonmembers/$9 FSGW members. Contact 202-518-1299 or www.fsgw.org.

Voices of the River. Join the fiddle-guitar duo Kitchen Gorilla for some fiddlin' on the porch, 4-5 p.m. At the River Center at Lockhouse 8, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Cabin John. To RSVP for this free event, contact Judy Welles at welles@potomac.org or 301-608-1188.

Opera International. Opera International presents an Operatic Vocal Gala Concert featuring a multitude of operatic singers and styles at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, 4 p.m. Tickets are $40-$50. Tickets are available at the Strathmore Box Office or through Opera International at 301-365-3479.

Chinese Book Discussion. Chinese book discussion in Chinese language at the Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 7 p.m. This months book will be "Love Story of Yu Dafu and Wang Yingxia." Ask for the book at the Circulation Desk. Two hours. Call 240-777-0690.

The Bach Sinfonia. Join Strathmore at a program of delightful summer entertainment in a charming 18th century concert designed for pleasant enjoyment of the outdoors, 7 p.m. Free. BBQ ribs, pulled pork, veggie burgers, hot dogs, side dishes, desserts, soda, water, beer and wine are available for purchase at Bruce’s BBQ Shack during Strathmore’s Free Outdoor Concert Series. Visit www.strathmore.org.

&lt;cal1&gt;Thursday/Aug. 9

&lt;cal2&gt;Family Films. Come watch films based on popular picture books at Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 10:30 a.m. A librarian will read a story and do stretches with the children. No registration required. Call 240-777-0690.

Salsa Dance. High Energy Productions presents a Salsa Dance with a Salsa lesson from 8-9 p.m., taught by Keith Givens, followed by dancing to incredible live music until midnight by a Salsa band in the Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park. Cost is $12. Visit www.oohsalsa.com. Contact Keith Givens at searchernet@comcast.net.

Park Tours. Walking tours of Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo begin at 2 p.m. A 60-minute film documentary is shown at 4 p.m. Admission is free and the tour is also offered by appointment at 301-492-6229. Visit www.nps.gov/glec.

Weekend Nature Program. Come visit Discovery Creek Children's Museum Forest Tales exhibition. Spend quality time with the entire family while participating in engaging science and nature activities at the Stable at Glen Echo Park, located near the park entrance, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 2, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 to make arrangements or visit www.discoverycreek.org.

English Language Conversation Club. Join in practicing and improving your spoken English with the help of volunteers leading discussions at the Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 3 p.m. Call 240-777-0690.

Book Sale. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, Potomac Chapter. Most hardbacks $1 and paperbacks $.50, at the Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 9 a.m. Four hours. Call 240-777-0690.

Park Tours. Walking tours of Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo begin at 2 p.m. A 60-minute film documentary is shown at 4 p.m. Admission is free and the tour is also offered by appointment at 301-492-6229. Visit www.nps.gov/glec.

Weekend Nature Program. Come visit Discovery Creek Children's Museum Forest Tales exhibition. Spend quality time with the entire family while participating in engaging science and nature activities at the Stable at Glen Echo Park, located near the park entrance, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 2, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 to make arrangements or visit www.discoverycreek.org.

Contra and Square Dance. The Folklore Society of Greater Washington presents traditional American dancing with a focus on New England style contra dances, and including square dances, country mixers, waltzes and other couple dances. All dances are taught, and no partner is necessary. The newcomers' welcome lesson is at 7 p.m., followed by called dances from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Cost is $12 nonmembers/$9 FSGW members. Contact 202-518-1299 or www.fsgw.org.

Ballroom Tea Dance. The La Salle Dance Orchestra invites the public to enjoy an afternoon of dancing to the popular music of the 1920s and ’30s in the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park. Marc and Ellen are always on hand to teach a class at 3 p.m. and downbeat for the orchestra is 3:30 p.m. Cost is $8. They play three sets of music until 6 p.m. Contact 703-425-7926.

Sunday Blues. The Glen Echo Park Partnership presents a mostly Blues Dance with ACME Blues Company, playing a mix of traditional and contemporary blues music in Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park. For dancers who want to learn more about slow blues dancing, there are blues lesson from 7-8:30 p.m. Dancing runs until 11:30 p.m. Cost is $12 dance only/$17 lesson and dance. Contact Donna Barker at 301-634-2231 or dbarker@glenechopark.org.

&lt;cal2&gt;Family Films. Come watch films based on popular picture books at Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 10:30 a.m. A librarian will read a story and do stretches with the children. No registration required. Call 240-777-0690.

Park Tours. Walking tours of Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo begin at 2 p.m. A 60-minute film documentary is shown at 4 p.m. Admission is free and the tour is also offered by appointment at 301-492-6229. Visit www.nps.gov/glec.

Weekend Nature Program. Come visit Discovery Creek Children's Museum Forest Tales exhibition. Spend quality time with the entire family while participating in engaging science and nature activities at the Stable at Glen Echo Park, located near the park entrance, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 2, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 to make arrangements or visit www.discoverycreek.org.

English Language Conversation Club. Join in practicing and improving your spoken English with the help of volunteers leading discussions at the Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 3 p.m. Call 240-777-0690.

Park Tours. Walking tours of Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo begin at 2 p.m. A 60-minute film documentary is shown at 4 p.m. Admission is free and the tour is also offered by appointment at 301-492-6229. Visit www.nps.gov/glec.

Weekend Nature Program. Come visit Discovery Creek Children's Museum Forest Tales exhibition. Spend quality time with the entire family while participating in engaging science and nature activities at the Stable at Glen Echo Park, located near the park entrance, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 2, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 to make arrangements or visit www.discoverycreek.org.

&lt;cal2&gt;Family Films. Come watch films based on popular picture books at Potomac Library, 10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac, 10:30 a.m. A librarian will read a story and do stretches with the children. No registration required. Call 240-777-0690.

Park Tours. Walking tours of Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo begin at 2 p.m. A 60-minute film documentary is shown at 4 p.m. Admission is free and the tour is also offered by appointment at 301-492-6229. Visit www.nps.gov/glec.

Weekend Nature Program. Come visit Discovery Creek Children's Museum Forest Tales exhibition. Spend quality time with the entire family while participating in engaging science and nature activities at the Stable at Glen Echo Park, located near the park entrance, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 2, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 to make arrangements or visit www.discoverycreek.org.

Park Tours. Walking tours of Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo begin at 2 p.m. A 60-minute film documentary is shown at 4 p.m. Admission is free and the tour is also offered by appointment at 301-492-6229. Visit www.nps.gov/glec.

Weekend Nature Program. Come visit Discovery Creek Children's Museum Forest Tales exhibition. Spend quality time with the entire family while participating in engaging science and nature activities at the Stable at Glen Echo Park, located near the park entrance, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 2, $5 for nonmembers. Call 202-337-5111 to make arrangements or visit www.discoverycreek.org.

Open House Party. The International School of Music is hosting an Open House and Anniversary Party from 1-4 p.m. at the International School of Music, 5110 Ridgefield Road, Bethesda. It is free and it will have a lot of fun activities for the whole family: live music, refreshments, "petting zoo" (trying music instruments), magic, free raffle, caricature artist, seated massage, hair braids, jewelry making, and much more. Call 301-657-0763 or visit www.ismw.org.